Rev. Kim, Rev. Reanna Marie, Marylynn, and First Elder Rev. Bitterwind (who attends PURE Sanctuary) brought a camera with them to record the event this year.

Above: Rev. Reanna and Lady Bitterwind of PURE Sanctuary Temple gather water for the Lustration from the Vermilion river. Each year the members of PURE Sanctuary Temple acquire and Bless the sacred water used in the ceremony of Lustration.

It was on the banks of the Vermilion river that the Correllian Tradition began and grew to maturity, so whenever possible the water used in the Lustration is taken from the Vermilion as a tribute to the Ancestors, although we have also on occasion used water from other rivers, notably the Kankakee.

Above: Rev. Reanna Marie, Rev. Kim Reffet, and Arch Priestess Bitterwind take part in the Blessing of the Lustral Water.

Above: Marylynn, Rev. Kim Reffet, and Arch Priestess Bitterwind put a final Blessing on the Lustral Water in its specially decorated container.

This Lustration was very special, because it was the first Lustration to be held at our new building in Hoopeston, Illinois. Affectionately known as the Elephant, this huge building serves us in a multitude of ways: as the home campus of Witchschool.com, Hoopeston Books and Gifts, Selu Witan Shrine, and the temporary quarters of the Correll Mother Temple. It is a very large building, and it needs a lot of work -but it is eminently suited to our needs.



Above: The main entrance of the Elephant Building, Hoopeston, Illinois

 People were coming from several states to attend the Lustration, including Washington DC, Ohio, and Michigan, as well as Illinois itself. People began to arriving Thursday, the largest number being present on Sunday for the actual Lustration ceremony.

Our out-of-town guests included Rev. Janet Schmidt and her husband Rev. Rick Schmidt of Thousand Mirrors Temple in Belleville, Illinois: Rev. Mark, Rev. Sapphire Star, and Diane from  Washington, DC: Rev. Casey, Vicky, and Kylie from Kankakee, Illinois: and Rev. Mike McBride of Saulte St. Marie, Michigan.

The weekend had a full schedule of events covering both Saturday and Sunday. The schedule is reproduced below:

Saturday morning began with the Second Degree initiation of Rev. Janet Schmidt of Thousand Mirrors Temple, followed by the First Degree initiation of Rev. Rick Schmidt, also of Thousand Mirrors. 

Rev. Janet is very active in the Tradition. She has been with us for some years, and is studying toward her Third Degree with Lady Ruthann. Rev. Janet serves as Moderator for many of our E-lists, ensuring that they run smoothly. Last year Rev. Janet was awarded the Order of Orpheus for her services to the Tradition. 

Thousand Mirrors is a dynamic Temple which hosts many activities in the Belleville, Illinois area.

Saturday afternoon we offered a number of lectures, including: "Paganism, Lifestyle or Hobby?" which discusses the challenges of the Pagan lifestyle in the contemporary world: "Requirements for the Three Degrees of Priesthood" which discusses the requirements for and duties of the various levels of Correllian Clergy: and "The Nature and Purposes of the Lustration" which discusses the origins of the Lustration ceremony, how it developed, and why we regard it as being so important.

After dinner Saturday we began the initiatory confirmation ceremony. The Correllian Tradition recognizes self-performed initiations, but we encourage all of our members to follow this with a real-time initiation whenever possible. To facilitate this we hold initiatory confirmation ceremonies for people who have already had their self-initiation but are having it confirmed by a real-time ceremony. We do this at every Lustration and other occasions besides.

We came together around 11 PM for the Temple Deeming. Aspiring Correllian Temples must first spend approximately one year as a Witan Shrine before being Deemed for full Temple status. 

Lady Ruthann serves as Templar Grand Deemstress. At each Deeming Lady Ruthann is joined by two other Deemsters, specially chosen for the occasion.

Witan Shrines which have become eligible for Deeming must make a presentation to the Deemster's Court. The Witan Shrine's records are examined, and questions are posed regarding its projects, experiences, and worthiness for Temple status. 

At this Lustration only one Witan Shrine was approved for Temple status: Triple Goddess, located in Wheaton, Illinois, and  headed by Rev. Karen Plioplys.

After a good nights rest we reconvened Sunday morning to prepare for the Lustration ceremony itself, which was to be held at noon.

As noon approached First Elder Bitterwind and the members of PURE Sanctuary arrived with the Lustral Water. Many other people were arriving as well, since the Lustration proper is always the most heavily attended part of the weekend.

Once again the eminent First Priestess Lady Krystel was unable to take part in the Lustration, so the Lady Priestess Ruthann stood in for her.

We began with the slow and rhythmic dance of the Temple dancers, who had been organized and trained by Rev. Casey. 

Rev. Casey led the way in his accustomed role as Guardian, bearing the ceremonial sword, and issued the challenge which begins each Lustration and starts the process of cleansing the Temple space.

Next the beautiful, white-clad dancers came, led by Anastasia Tompkins, circling the ritual space with winding steps and elegant movements. As the dance progressed, the youngest dancers formed an honor guard at the Temple entrance, blessing the celebrants as they processed in.

When everyone had assembled the ritual began with the cleansing and Blessing of the Circle. Then the Higher Selves of the First Priesthood were invoked.

Now the Sword was presented and the Circle cast.

Next the Staff was presented, and the Quarters were called with the invocation of the Seventy Gods. This long invocation calls upon seventy Divinities Who are are meant to represent all Deities, stressing the Nativist universalism inherent in the Correllian Tradition.

Nativism, as envisioned by Blv. Caroline High Correll, is the idea that the indigenous religions of the world are kin to one another, having more in common than divides them. This is a guiding vision of Correllianism.

The invocation of the Seventy Gods ends with the invocation of Goddess and God as such. This is followed by the Great Rite and the Combined Charge.

Rev. Mark, Rev. Sapphire, and Rev. Diane  recite the Combined Charge of Goddess and God, and enact the Great Rite symbolizing the union of Spirit and Matter, Deity in the Universe.

Above: A group photo after the ritual. L to R: Aaron, girl dancer, Vicky, boy dancer, Rev. Diane, Rev. Janet Schmidt Head of Thousand Mirrors Temple, Rev. Sapphire Star, Rev. Don Lewis, Lady Ruthann, Rev. Aine Massie Head of Crystalline Star Temple, Rev. Virginia Powell from Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Rick Schmidt of Thousand Mirrors Temple, Rev. Jason Mycroft of Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Mike McBride of Sacred Realm Personal Shrine, Rev. Stargazer from Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Mark Crewson. Front Row: Rev. Kim Reffet Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple, Marylynn from PURE Sanctuary Temple, Rev. Karen Plioplys Head of Triple Goddess Temple, and Rev. Casey.

Arch Priestess Bitterwind takes the Lustral Water, which has been hallowed by the Ancestor's Blessing to the center of the Circle for the act of Lustration. One by one the Guardians of each Quarter come to her. Under the guidance of the Arch Priestess, the Quarter Guardians use a goose feather fan to asperse their respective Quarter, dispersing the Blessing of the Ancestors unto all the Correllians of that Quarter. In this way the energies of the Blessing are sent out to all the Correllians of the world.

When the last Quarter Guardian has returned to place, the Chalice is presented, and the toast is offered using the water Blessed earlier during the Great Rite.

Finally, thanks are given, and the rite is ended.

As always, the Lustration was a wonderful experience, and we are very grateful to all those who came and whose energies and efforts made it such a special weekend. Many Blessings to all!